Diffusive Mixing of Polymers Investigated by Raman Microspectroscopy and Microrheology

0350942 - ÚPT 2011 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Jonáš, Alexandr - De Luca, A.C. - Pesce, G. - Rusciano, G. - Sasso, A. - Caserta, S. - Guido, S. - Marrucci, G.
Diffusive Mixing of Polymers Investigated by Raman Microspectroscopy and Microrheology.
Langmuir. Roč. 26, č. 17 (2010), s. 14223-14230. ISSN 0743-7463
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z20650511
Keywords : mutual diffusion * interfacial-tension * immiscible polymers * blends
Subject RIV: JA - Electronics ; Optoelectronics, Electrical Engineering
Impact factor: 4.269, year: 2010

Diffusive mixing in a model polymer blend of limited miscibility (i.e., the pair polydimethylsiloxane/polyisobutene) is investigated. The diffusion process is followed in the actual droplet-based microstructure of the polymer blend, as opposed to the ideal planar geometry used in previous studies (Brochard et al. Macromolecules 1983, /6, 1638; Composto et al. Nature 1987, 328, 234). In our experiments we combine Raman microspectroscopy and video particletracking microrheology. The first technique allows us to monitor local concentration of the two polymers with high spatial resolution both inside and outside a micrometer-size droplet of the dispersed phase. In addition, microrheology enables to follow how the local viscosity inside the droplet changes during the diffusion. The polymer viscosity inside the droplet is determined by video tracking the Brownian motion of a polystyrene bead microinjected into the droplet.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0006154